"We were eagerly waiting to see this combo" - Mohammad Kaif on the pairing of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for CSK after IPL 2025 Auction
Mohammad Kaif has noted that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have brought together the spin-bowling duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for IPL 2025. He opined that the five-time champions might play only two spinners at Chepauk, their home ground, as the conditions haven't been too spin-friendly lately.
CSK retained Jadeja for ₹18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. They spent ₹9.75 crore to acquire Ashwin's services at the recent auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif expressed his delight about the Chennai Super Kings' acquisition of Ashwin. He added that the Tamil Nadu spinner will be eager to prove himself at his home franchise.
"The pitch has become slightly better. You are not getting tracks that turn a lot. We saw Lucknow (Super Giants) chasing 200 there, (Marcus) Stoinis scored a hundred. The dew factor is there. So three spinners might not play. I see three fast bowlers playing there. Nathan Ellis can play there. He is a good bowler, bowls back-of-the-hand deliveries. They also have the option of Sam Curran," he said.
"Jadeja and Ashwin - we were eagerly waiting to see this combo. Ashwin will bowl with the new ball. The ball will be hard. He bowls well but couldn't do that well for the Rajasthan Royals. So Ashwin will be hungry to prove himself. He will be seen alongside Jadeja in CSK," Kaif added.
Ashwin picked up only nine wickets at an economy rate of 8.49 in 14 innings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024. Jadeja also wasn't potent with the ball last season, accounting for eight dismissals at an economy rate of 7.85 in 14 innings.
"Ruturaj Gaikwad always scores runs" - Mohammad Kaif on CSK's batting
![Ruturaj Gaikwad amassed 583 runs at a strike rate of 141.16 in 14 innings in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/2a2a6-17326888841982-1920.jpg?w=500)
Reflecting on the Chennai Super Kings' batting, Mohammad Kaif noted that they have a decent potential top three in Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra.
"Their batting is fantastic. Nothing is lacking in their batting. (Ruturaj) Gaikwad always scores runs. He scored 500-600 last year as well. (Devon) Conway scores there. Rachin (Ravindra) has to prove himself. He has not yet become a hero in the IPL. He has to work on his batting," he said in the same discussion.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that CSK have a couple of excellent players of spin in Rahul Tripathi and Shivam Dube.
"(Rahul) Tripathi plays spin well. His strike rate against spin is very good. That is why they didn't take (Ajinkya) Rahane and ran after Tripathi. He is a good buy. (Shivam) Dube hits sixes off the first ball. His form remains fantastic. He plays well at CSK's home ground. These five batters are very good options," Kaif observed.
Kaif expects MS Dhoni to continue to bat down the order, with Jadeja and Ashwin potentially batting ahead of him. He added that they have a game-changing death bowler in Matheesha Pathirana.